Bistable spring stand and housing for a handheld device

ABSTRACT

An accessory for supporting a handheld electronic device includes a bistable spring to position and support the handheld device. The accessory includes a housing coupled to the handheld device and a bistable spring moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the bistable spring is substantially flat and in the second position the bistable spring defines a longitudinal curve away from the housing. The curvature of the bistable spring in the second position can support the handheld device on a surface e.g. table and in a slot such as CD player or air vent in a vehicle. The longitudinal curve of the bistable spring easily deflects to a reduced curvature to be received in and retained with a slot and consistently actuates to same radius in the second position providing proper viewing angle of screen for handheld device.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.62/169,235 filed on Jun. 1, 2015, titled Bistable Spring Stand AndHousing For A Handheld Device, which is incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to handheld devices, for example smartphones, cell phones, electronic music players, data storage devices, andtablets, and more particularly to accessories for handheld devices.

BACKGROUND

Many handheld devices are held in an upright position in a vehicle withbulky and expensive mounting devices that remain fixed in place when thehandheld device is removed. Some prior art handheld devices include acase for the handheld device with an integral extendable stand or ‘kickstand’ on the side opposite the screen. This extendable stand is used toposition the handheld device upright on a table or to hold betweenfingers. However, in a vehicle this extendable stand does not securelyhold the handheld device in an upright position, with the screen at theproper viewing angle for the driver to use the handheld device for taskssuch as navigation or receiving a call. This extendable stand is morestraight than curved, which does not retain the handheld device securelywithin a slot, e.g. vent or CD player slot in a vehicle, especially whendriving a vehicle down a bumpy or windy road. For some users there is aneed to releasably mount a handheld device in a vehicle withoutrequiring a bulky and expensive mounting device.

The vehicle mounting device industry for handheld devices can reducesafety concerns related to not retaining these devices while a vehicleis in operation. If these devices are not retained a driver may becomedistracted from driving if, for example, the device falls or movescausing the driver to focus on finding or adjusting the device, thansafely driving the vehicle. If the handheld device was securely retainedwhile the driver operates a vehicle, the driver's focus could be more ondriving, thus providing a safer driving environment.

SUMMARY

The present invention may comprise one or more of the features recitedin the attached claims, and/or one or more of the following features andcombinations thereof.

An accessory for supporting a handheld electronic device includes abistable spring to position and support the handheld device. Theaccessory includes a housing coupled to the handheld device and abistable spring moveable between a first position and a second position.In the first position the bistable spring is substantially flat and inthe second position the bistable spring defines a longitudinal curveaway from the housing. The curvature of the bistable spring in thesecond position can support the handheld device on a surface e.g. tableand in a slot e.g. CD player or air vent in a vehicle. The longitudinalcurve of the bistable spring easily deflects at a distal end to areduced curvature to be received in a slot and consistently actuates tosame radius in the second position providing proper viewing angle forthe screen of the handheld device.

An illustrative embodiment of an accessory for supporting a handhelddevice on at least one of a surface and a slot according to the presentdisclosure comprises a housing having a first side and a second side,the first side of the housing coupled to the handheld device and thehousing defining a curved mounting surface. A bistable spring having afirst edge and a second edge, a first end and a second end, a firstnotch defined along the first edge and a second notch defined along thesecond edge, and a cross-section of the bistable spring between thefirst and second edges reduced between the first and second notches. Thebistable spring moveable between a first position and a second position,in the first position the bistable spring is substantially flat betweenthe first and second end and defining a lateral curve between the firstand second edge, in the second position the bistable spring defining alongitudinal curve outward from the housing and is substantially flatbetween the first and second edge. The first end of the bistable springcoupled to the curved mounting surface such that the first end definesthe lateral curve when the bistable spring is in the first and thesecond position. The curvature of the bistable spring structure in thesecond position can support the handheld device on at least a surface orfrom an air vent or CD player slot in a vehicle. The longitudinal curveradius of the bistable spring in the second position is set during themanufacturing process with a curve setting machine so that the bistablespring consistently actuates to the desired curve radius to securelyhold the handheld device in an air vent or CD player slot in a vehicle.

Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of the illustrative embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of an accessory having ahousing and a bistable spring in first position according to the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 1with the bistable spring in a second position;

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 1with the bistable spring in the first position;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a side perspective view of the accessory ofFIG. 1 with the bistable spring in the second position;

FIG. 4C illustrates a side perspective view of a prior art accessorywith the bistable spring;

FIG. 5A and 5B illustrate a front view of a first and a second notch ofthe bistable spring of the accessory of FIG. 1 with a plastic covermostly removed;

FIG. 6A illustrates a bottom end perspective view of the accessory ofFIG. 1 attached to a handheld device with the bistable spring in thesecond position and resting in a horizontal orientation on a flatsurface;

FIG. 6B illustrates a front perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 1attached to a handheld device with the bistable spring in the secondposition and resting in a horizontal orientation on a flat surface;

FIG. 7A illustrates a front perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 1attached to a handheld device with the bistable spring in the secondposition and resting in a vertical orientation on a flat surface;

FIG. 7B illustrates a side perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 1attached to a handheld device with the bistable spring in the secondposition and resting in a vertical orientation on a flat surface;

FIG. 8A illustrates a front perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 1attached to a handheld device with the bistable spring in a secondposition and mounted to a vehicle air vent slot;

FIG. 8B illustrates a side perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 1attached to a handheld device with the bistable spring in a secondposition and mounted to a vehicle air vent slot;

FIG. 9A illustrates a front perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 1attached to a handheld device with the bistable spring in a secondposition and mounted to a vehicle CD player slot;

FIG. 9B illustrates a side perspective view of the accessory of FIG. 1attached to a handheld device with the bistable spring in a secondposition and mounted to a vehicle CD player slot; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross sectional view of the accessory of FIG. 1taken along section line 10-10 shown in FIG. 4A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principals of theinvention, reference will now be made to one or more illustrativeembodiments shown in the drawings and specific language will be used todescribe the same.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, a first illustrative embodiment of an accessory10 for a handheld device 12 according to the present invention isillustrated. The accessory 10 includes a housing 20 and a bistablespring 22. The housing 20 includes a first side 24 (shown in FIGS. 1 and2) and a second side 26 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). The bistable spring 22is coupled to the housing 20 and includes a retracted first position(shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) and an extended second position (shown in FIGS.2 and 4A). The bistable spring 22 is stable in each position, but can bemechanically actuated between the positions. The bistable spring 22 issubstantially flat along its length between first end 40 and second end42 in the first position (shown in FIG. 3) and has a curvaturetranslating the second end 42 through more than 90 degrees, oralternatively more than 110 degrees, in the second position as shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B as angle 52.

The longitudinal curvature of bistable spring 22 in the second positioncan support a handheld device on a surface 14 (FIG. 6A) or from a slot16 (FIGS. 8B and 9B) in an elevated position for easily using andviewing. The bistable spring 22 consistently actuates to the same radiusand longitudinal curvature in the second position. The bistable spring22 has a resilient cover 44 (shown with end portion intact in FIGS. 5Aand 5B) with a stiffness that is overcome by moving the spring betweenthe first and second positions. The cover 44 also resists thelongitudinal curvature and thus limits the radius of the longitudinalcurvature of the bistable spring 22 in the second position. Theresilient cover defines recesses 45 (FIGS. 1 and 3) extendinglongitudinally along each side of the bistable spring to reduce thestiffness and resistance to flexing of the lateral curve between thefirst edge 36 and the second edge 38 of the bistable spring 22 thatoccurs in translating between the laterally curved first position andthe substantially laterally flat second position. Referring to FIG. 10,the lateral curve of the bistable spring 22 in the first position isconvex along the entire length away from the second surface 26 ofhousing 20. The lateral curve of the bistable spring 22 in the secondposition flattens along the entire length toward second surface 26 ofhousing 20, thereby enabling a distal second end 42 portion of thelength to more easily be flexed from being longitudinally curved to moreflat to be received in an opening, as will be discussed further below.

The bistable spring 22 includes a first notch 32 along the first edge36, a second notch 34 along the second edge 38, a first end 40 and asecond end 42 (shown in FIG. 5). The cross-section between the firstnotch 32 and the second notch 34 is reduces to ease the bistable spring22 movement between first position (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) and secondposition (shown in FIGS. 2 and 4), and to decrease a radius R1 of thecurvature nearest end 40, as shown in FIG. 4B. The first notch 32 andthe second notch 34 (shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B) also reduce resistance toflexing of the bistable spring 22 in the second position so that thesecond end 42 is more easily flexed to a desired position relative tothe second side 26 (shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) of the housing 20 as thesecond end 42 is inserted into an opening, e.g., a slot as shown inFIGS. 8B and 9B. The second end 42 of the bistable spring 22 in thesecond position can be located above and between the first end 40 andthe second end 42 of the bistable spring 22 in the first position, andin particular, past a midpoint between ends 40 and 42 so that in thesecond position the end 42 is closer to the end 40 than end 42 in thefirst position. Additionally, the second end 42 in the second positionrotates to a location above a point near to but just short of a midpointbetween the ends of housing 20. The second end 42 of the bistable spring22 in the second position is about perpendicular to the bistable spring22 in the first position. The bistable spring 22 moves from the firstposition into the second position when pressure is applied in the areabetween the first notch 32 and the second notch 34 and the bistablespring 22 returns to the first position when pressure applied to thesecond end 42 toward the housing 20.

The first end 40 of the bistable spring 22 is attached to a curvedmounting surface 28 of housing 20 (shown in FIG. 2) such that the firstend 40 defines a lateral curve adjacent end 40 (see FIG. 10) betweenedges 36 and 38 when the bistable spring 22 is in either of the firstand second positions. The material, constructions, and first and secondpositions of bistable spring 22 can be the same or similar to springsteel or roll-up metal tape measures or plastic and metal slapbracelets. In an illustrative embodiment, the bistable spring 22 has awidth 57 of approximately 25 millimeters between the first edge 36 andthe second edge 38, a length 56 of approximately 75.4 millimetersbetween the first edge 40 and the second edge 42, and a distance 58 ofapproximately 21.57 millimeters between a center of the notches 32, 34and the first edge 40. The material width remaining between notches 32and 34 is about 20 mm. The bistable spring 22 material may be 1095 or1075 spring steel, and may have a thickness of 0.2 millimeters. Thelateral displacement 50 of the second end 42 of the bistable spring 22in the extended second position from where the second end of thebistable spring 22 was located in the first position is betweenapproximately 41 to 45 millimeters, as shown in FIG. 4A. The verticaldisplacement 51 of the second end 42 in the extended second positionfrom where the second end was located in the first position is about 37to 41 millimeters. An angle 52 between a tangent line to the second end42 and a top of the curved mounting surface 28 the retracted firstposition for second end 42 of housing 20 may be greater than 90 degrees,for example, between about 110 to 140 degrees, or alternatively, betweenabout 120 to 130 degrees, or alternatively in the embodiment shown,about 125 degrees while bistable spring 22 is in the extended secondposition, as shown in FIG. 4B. The radius R2 near end 42 and measuredbetween the first end 40 and the second end 42 of bistable spring 22 inthe second position is about 52 millimeters. The radius R1 of the curvedbistable spring 22 near end 40 in the second position is about 17millimeters. Subsequent to assembly of the accessory 10, the bistablespring 22 may be processed in a curve setting machine (not shown). Thecurve setting machine sets the curve radii R1 and R2 of the bistablespring 22 in the extended second position. Setting the curve of thebistable spring 22 with the curve setting machine to pretension orotherwise enable the bistable spring 22 to consistently actuate to thesame radius, longitudinal curvature, and displacement in the secondposition. The notches 32 and 34 of the bistable spring 22 aid the curvesetter in setting the desired curve radius, to consistently actuate thebistable spring 22 to the same radius, curvature, and displacement inthe second position.

FIG. 6A and 6B illustrates the accessory 10 attached to handheld device12 with bistable spring 22 in second position, resting in a horizontalposition on a surface 14. FIG. 7A and 7B illustrates a housing 20attached to handheld device 12 with bistable spring 22 in secondposition, resting in an elevated position on a surface 14. FIG. 8A and8B illustrate the accessory 10 attached to a handheld device withbistable spring 22 in second position, extending from a slot 16 formedby a vehicle's air vent 17. FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the accessory 10attached to handheld device 12 with bistable spring 22 in secondposition, extending from a slot 16 of a vehicle's CD player 18.Advantageously, the distal second end 42 of the bistable spring 22 iseasily flattened enough to be received between the two surfaces formingthe opening of the slot 16. Upon entry of the second end 42 within theslot 16, flexing of the second end 42 to its longitudinally curvedsecond position aids retention of the accessory 10 by the slot 16 inthat the longitudinal curve will cause bistable spring 22 to be incontact with both upper and lower opening surfaces of vent 17 or CDplayer 18 forming the slot 16. In contrast, prior art accessories 100with extendable stands (FIG. 4C) lack a sufficient longitudinal curve(straight or large radius) and are not well retained within slot 16, orhave too much of a longitudinal curve (small radius) and/or resistflexing to a straightened longitudinal curve at a distal end such thatit is difficult or not possible to insert the distal end within a slot16. For example, typical prior art accessories 100 provides an angle 152of rotation, less than about 90 degrees.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in theforegoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described andthat all changes and modifications that come within the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined in the claims and summary are desired to beprotected.

1. An accessory for supporting a handheld device by at least one of a surface and a slot, comprising: a housing having a first side and a second side, the first side of the housing coupled to the handheld device, and the housing defining a mounting surface; and a bistable spring having a first edge and a second edge, a first end and a second end, and a first notch defined along the first edge and a second notch defined along the second edge, a cross-section of the bistable spring between the first and second edge reduced between the first and second notches, and the first end coupled to the mounting surface; and wherein the bistable spring is moveable between a first position and a second position, in the first position the bistable spring is substantially flat between the first and second end and defines a lateral curve between the first and second edge, and in the second position the bistable spring defines a longitudinal curve outward from the housing.
 2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the second end of the bistable spring rotates through greater than 90 degrees in moving from the first position to the second position.
 3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the second end of the bistable spring rotates through between 110 degrees to 140 degrees in moving from the first position to the second position.
 4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the second end of the bistable spring rotates through about 125 degrees in moving from the first position to the second position.
 5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the bistable spring is pretensioned to repeatedly actuate to a consistent second position.
 6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the bistable spring defines in the second position a radius of longitudinal curvature nearest the second end that retains the second end between opposite members defining the slot.
 7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the mounting surface of the housing is curved to retain the lateral curve of the bistable spring adjacent the first end.
 8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the bistable spring is substantially flat between the first edge and the second edge in the second position.
 9. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the second end of the bistable spring in the second position is located laterally beyond the midpoint defined by the first and second ends in the first position.
 10. An accessory for supporting a handheld device, comprising: a housing having a first side and a second side, the first side of the housing coupled to the handheld device, and the housing defining a mounting surface; and a bistable spring having a first edge and a second edge, and a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the mounting surface of the housing; and wherein: the second end of the bistable spring is moveable between a first position in which the bistable spring is longitudinally straight and a second position in which the bistable spring is longitudinally curved away from the housing; and in translating from the first position to the second position the second end rotates through greater than 90 degrees.
 11. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the second end rotates through greater than 120 degrees.
 12. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the second end rotates through between about 110 to 140 degrees.
 13. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the bistable spring is pretensioned to repeatedly return the second end between consistent locations in the first position and in the second position of the bistable spring.
 14. The accessory of claim 13, wherein the first and second edges of the bistable spring each define at least one notch.
 15. The accessory of claim 14, wherein the at least one notch is located closer to the first end than to the second end.
 16. The accessory of claim 10, further comprising a flexible plastic cover encapsulating the bistable spring.
 17. An accessory for supporting a handheld device, comprising: a housing having a first side and a second side, the first side of the housing coupled to the handheld device, and the housing defining a mounting surface; and a bistable spring having a first edge and a second edge, and a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the mounting surface of the housing, and the first and second edge each defining at least one notch; and wherein the bistable spring is moveable between and stable in each of a first position in which the bistable spring is longitudinally straight and a second position in which the bistable spring is longitudinally curved away from the housing such that the second end translates through a rotation of at least 110 degrees.
 18. The accessory of claim 17, wherein in the second position the second end of the bistable spring is located beyond the midpoint defined between the first end and the second end in the first position such that in the second position the second end is closer to the first end than it is to its own location in the first position.
 19. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the bistable spring is pretensioned to repeatedly move the second end between consistent locations in the first and in the second positions.
 20. The accessory of claim 20, further comprising a plastic cover encapsulating the bistable spring. 